It's easy to get caught up in trying to be perfect, healthier, thinner, smarter, and more successful. Self improvement is a good thing, but a lot of us forget how much we need self-acceptance.

Tiny Buddha's Melissa Dinwiddie reveals her journey toward self-acceptance. Having striven for perfectionism for so long, it wasn't an easy one. But here's what she concluded:

There's nothing wrong with self-improvement, but the truth is, none of us is—or can even hope to be—perfect. We may pursue mastery, excellence, improvement, and be challenged by the pursuit, but insisting on perfection can only lead to self-disgust and unhappiness.